A safety tether or harness attaches to a handle of a dumbbell for providing freedom of movement within a normal exercising range of motions but support the dumbbells via the tether outside the usage range. A clamp engages the handle of the dumbbell, and the tether is defined by a loop of cable, chain or robe that encircles an overhead bar or frame. The loop allows lateral movement along the overhead bar. The clamp engages the dumbbell at the bar in a spring loaded interference fit to prevent accidental release. The tether length supports the dumbbell at or just below a rest position defined by outstretched arms, such that an ungrasped or dropped dumbbell is suspended at the rest position to avoid injury or damage from a free fall down to the floor level.

The present embodiment disclose apparatus and methods for allowing users to quick-release of weights from a cylindrical bar with the release of a push-button, said coupled locking pin releases open the latch to be removed from the bar, thereby allowing release of at least one weight from at least one end of the opposable ends of the bar. Other embodiments include an attachable quick-release of weights apparatus for a cylindrical bar with opposable ends. In yet other embodiments, an object of the claimed invention to provide for an integrated quick-release of weights apparatus for a cylindrical bar with opposable ends.

A weight rack system, comprising: at least one upright component provided with at least one cut-out on a front of the at least one upright, wherein the upright component is formed from a single sheet and is of unitary construction.

A sports specific and injury preventing exercise device for exercising a user. The sports specific and injury preventing exercise device includes a frame and a pair of handles on the frame. The pair of handles are parallel to one another, configured to be parallel to a trunk of the user, offset relative to the frame, and on opposite sides of the frame. The sports specific and injury preventing exercise device also includes a flat support area in a middle of the frame, wherein the flat support area is configured to support one or more weight plates. The sports specific and injury preventing exercise device further includes a sleeve attached to the flat support area. The sleeve is perpendicular to each of the pair of handles, perpendicular to the flat support area and located at a center point of the frame. The sports specific and injury preventing exercise device additionally includes one or more assist handles.

A pulley rack for an exercise machine includes a support frame, an upright extending generally vertically within the support frame, a counterweight having one or more counterweight pulleys, the counterweight moveable in a vertical direction relative to the support frame, one or more guide pulleys mounted to the support frame, a cable end assembly mounted to the upright, and a pull cable having a fixed attachment end connected to the cable end assembly and a pullable end freely passing through the cable end assembly. The pull cable is routed through the cable end assembly, the counterweight pulleys, and guide pulleys such that a force exerted on the pullable end raises the counterweight. A section of the pull cable extends from the pullable end through the cable end assembly and downwardly to one of the guide pulleys mounted below the cable end assembly.

The present invention is a free weight belt squat machine that allows a free, unencumbered raising and lowering of variable resistance by a user. A belt which is directly attached to the horizontal free weight bar holds standard Olympic plates and may be raised or lowered, directly in free space, by the user. Thus, the natural and optimal movement pattern of a straight line over the user's center of gravity may be fully and completely realized. This machine provides a control arm to safely and effectively engage and disengage the resistance from the machine to the user and then back to the machine. This machine further provides an adjustable stopper mechanism for the safety of the user and to limit or expand the range of the exercise to cause the desired adaptations in muscular strength and size.

Provided herein are embodiments of a barbell spotting apparatus having all the benefits of a free-floating, unconstrained barbell in both the horizontal and vertical axes with the safety of a dedicated spotting mechanism, while addressing safety, noise, and space concerns raised by typical barbell apparatus. The embodiments herein permit a loaded barbell to be positioned in line with the axis of motion of the lift to be performed at both the beginning and end of the lift.

A weight lifting support shirt is used to assist a lifter to perform workouts and comprises a chest support portion, a shoulder support portion, an abdominal support portion, and a first and second arm support portions each comprising a sleeve portion. The chest support portion is configured to extend across a chest portion of the lifter from a first end to a second end. The first and second arm support portions extend from the first and second ends of the chest support portion, respectively. The shoulder support portion abuts and extends across boundaries of the first and second arm support portions, and the chest support portion. The first and second arm support portions are configured to conform around a first and a second arm of the lifter. The abdominal support portion extends below from the chest support portion and is configured to conform and fasten around the lifer's abdomen.

A barbell belt to secure a barbell to an exercise apparatus in order to retain the barbell in a stationary position is disclosed. The barbell belt includes a strap having a first side and a second side. A loop is formed by overlying the first side of the first end over the second side of the first end. A fastener to secures the strap in the loop. A running end of the strap extends longitudinally from the fastener. A buckle is attached to the strap proximal the fastener. The barbell belt allows an athlete to secure a barbell to an exercise apparatus so that the athlete can perform stationary bar exercises on the barbell and the barbell will be quickly and securely retained on the exercise apparatus.

A multi-purpose exercise apparatus having a central hub. The central hub has a central plane and a bar bell aperture configured to receive a portion of a bar bell. A first arm is pivotably coupled to the central hub so as to be rotatable about a first arm pivot axis between a plurality of selectable first arm angular positions. A first gripping member is pivotably coupled to the first arm so as to be rotatable about a first handle pivot axis between a plurality of selectable first gripping angular positions. A second arm is pivotably coupled to the central hub so as to be rotatable about a second arm pivot axis between a plurality of selectable second arm angular positions. A second gripping member is pivotably coupled to the second arm to be rotatable about a second handle pivot axis between a plurality of selectable second gripping angular positions.